A group of eight diverse community organizations will be able to help children with mental health, healthcare, fresh food access, and other vital concerns, thanks to our region’s most comprehensive children’s charity. Wednesday, Kosair Charities awarded nearly a half-million dollars during a celebratory reception and news conference. The Kosair Charities Advisory Council grants fund items such as vehicles to carry children to medical appointments, camps to boost self-esteem, school-based dental services for disadvantaged youth, and parenting education for high-risk families.
Organizations receiving funds include Smoketown Family Wellness Center, Christian Formation Ministries, Dress for Success Louisville, Little Light House Central Kentucky, New Roots, NAMI Louisville, Operation Parent, and Shawnee Christian Healthcare Center. A full list of the projects and grant amounts is at the bottom of this news release.
“The amount of joy and hope these grants will bring to Kosair Kids really drives home the reason why we serve our community,” said Kosair Charities Advisory Council Chair Bob Bonsutto. “Kosair Charities Advisory Council members know that these requests will result in a powerful impact, one only made possible by generous donors. We diligently go through each request to guarantee that the money is spent wisely and will provide the outcomes we all want… for all children to live life to the fullest no matter the obstacles they face.”
Nearly two dozen community leaders serve on the Kosair Charities Advisory Council, a committee that provides guidance and offers insight on important issues facing children across Kentucky and Southern Indiana. Each year, council members review grant requests from organizations seeking assistance with their mission.
“We are grateful for the role each of these important community organizations play in our mission to help Kosair Kids live life to their fullest,” said Kosair Charities President Barry Dunn. “As we enter our second century of service, our goal is to provide more joy, hope, and love than we did in the first century. The announcement of these Kosair Charities Advisory Council grants is a great way to celebrate as we head into 2023 and our centennial year.”
The following organizations received Kosair Charities Advisory Council grants:
Operation Parent - $50,000 award to digitize its parent handbooks. The goal of these handbooks is to effectively educate parents on the role of the parent, setting age-appropriate boundaries, communicating effectively, identifying early warning signs and when & how to intervene, developing healthy relationships with their children, and more.
Little Light House Central Kentucky - $45,000 award to create a small sensory room and an inclusive gym that removes physical and social barriers so that all children can play or receive the sensory-seeking solutions they need.
New Roots – $55,000 award to purchase a van that will be used for various purposes as New Roots continues to operate its Fresh Stop Markets.
Smoketown Family and Wellness Center - $60,000 to purchase a passenger van that will be used for its new transportation program. This will provide access to care for children that would not otherwise be able to attend their appointments.
Christian Formation Ministries – $25,000 award providing scholarships for children attending My Camp, an intensive week-long camp in the summer that immerses the youth, with an incarcerated and addicted parent, in a caring and positive atmosphere.
NAMI Louisville and C.H.O.I.C.E., Inc. - $75,000 award to renovate a school bus into a mobile classroom to increase social-emotional learning and mental health services in youth-serving organizations.
Dress for Success Louisville - $40,000 award to purchase and outfit a van for the YES! (Youth Empowered for Success) Mobile Career Center. This program will address a broad range of vocational skills, training, and tangible needs necessary for teens to succeed in adulthood.
Shawnee Christian Healthcare Center – $50,000 award funding the creation of a new mobile dental clinic. This award is contingent on SCHC securing the remaining funding ($100,000) needed to complete the project.
